Annunciating-blackboard



tlsirrnp TATES PATENT Carton,

JOHN E. \VENGER, OF PARADISE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ANNUNClATlNG-BLACKBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,403, dated 5 11119 18, 1895.

Application filed April 23, 1894.

.T 0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. WENGER, a citizen of the United States,-residing at Paradise, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new Annunciating- Blackboard, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvements on the old style of blackboards, or slates as are at present in common use in the various educational institutions, and in all others where hlackboards or slates are or can be used, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a blackboard or any of its various substitutes, witha full alphabet, and notation of numerals, the alphabet and numbers being so arranged that they can be brought to view by depressing a key or other suitable means, and thereby operating the mechanism connected to the alphabet, numbers, or any other characters used.

Second, to make a blackboard that will double the facilities of instructors, having in charge the primary or other departments of schools, as anyletter, character or number desired can be brought into view and in exercising a young or kindergarten class, the pupils can be instructed and interested at the same time by the practical means employed. A greater impression is made on the memory of the pupil by having to select any particular characters by the keys or other means employed to bring into view the letters or numbers.

Third, the providing of a blackboard which can be used in illustrating stock quotations, or for a bulletin board for recording the scores in all events interesting to a sporting or athletic-loving public, and providing a ready means of a greater number of changes in all blackboards and bulletin boards for instruc tion, news, amusement or otherwise.

Fourth, to furnish an annunciating blackboard that will be invaluable in aiding pupils in the study of music.

To accomplish the purposes of my invention I construct a blackboard of slate or any other desirable material, and connected to the blackboard and forming part of its construction, either at the top or bottom, or any other desired location, and contained in the same frame or not with the blackboard or slate a Serial No. 508,634. (No model.)

number of openings, each opening divided by a small muntingor division strip, or the muntings or division strips may be left out, leaving the panel of the size of the whole number of the drops or shutters. These shutters are secured to the rear side of the framework of the device and held in position on the pivots S, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and are, it open, or as I may describe as being down, or supposed to be invisible, ondepressing a key or lever, which in turn operates a connecting rod attached to the shutter, forced up into its vertical position, and fills up its corresponding space or division, exposing to view the letter, number or other character on the face of the shutter, and will remain or drop back to its original position at the option of the operator. In case of a duplication of any character on the various shutters being desired, or for repetition, I arrange a circular and revolving board, pivoted at the back of the blackboard or its substitute, and provide an opening at any desired location in the blackboard, directly in front of the circular, revolving board at its back, through which opening any character on the circular or other board in the rear can be seen and to simplify the construction and facilitate the moving of the board at the back, I provide an opening or slot in the side of the end support or frame of the blackboard, through which the edge of the board at the back, slightly extends, rendering it easy for the instructor or operator to manipulate it in either direction, and bringing any character required opposite the opening in the blackboard.

I attain the objects of my invention, as de-' scribed, by the mechanism or attachments shown in the accompanying drawings, where for illustration and to more clearly describe and explain the practical operation of my invention, I have confined my drawings and description, as would be adaptable and applied for educational purposes.

Figure 1 shows a perspective side front elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation on the line mm. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective of a shutter or drop. 7

Similar letters refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

In-Fig. 1, A is a blackboard panel or slate, having the opening B, through which opening the letters or anyothercharacteron :the rotating board'O are shown.

6 is the pivot on which the rotating board 0 revolves. J

fis a slot or opening in the end support or frame G, through whichtheboard C is manipulated.

The alphabet A to Z is shown with the annunciating shutters F allup in viewand-F'; shows the annunciating shutters, vertically arranged for the numerals.

H is a 'munting forming the .division between the openings K, through which the annunciating shutters are seen.

' M represents the lever slots in the key or lever board N, through which the levers or keys 0 Work, and are supportedon the=pivot P, operating'the lever rods L' co'nuectedltolthe annunciating drops F. v

The divisional 'muntings H:dividing lthe openings Km-ay be dispensed withgleavi'ng one large openingifsodesired ormorecon- .venient for the-purposes tobe used.

In Fig. 3 is shown aperspeetivebf an annunciating drop or'shutter F witlrits sides or edges so constructed as to form 'a flanged edge h. *Onthe face of the shutter:is:sl1own' a permanent character. The dotted'linesW showa slip'or slide R, .partlyinsertedin the front of the annunci'ating drop 'or shutter'F and on whichean be any character, numeral or sign desired. The slip R isiutended to be marked with some character, numeral or word on each of its sides, doubling its capacity of usefulness.

It is obvious that the mechanism for the display of the numerals (shown in Fig. 1) will be the same as that; shown in Fig. 2, for the display of the letters, the mechanism so shown serving to operate the numerals the same as the letters.

What .I-claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'Thecotnbin'ation with a shutter for aununciating blackboards, having one of its-edges adapted to be secured tosaid-blackboard, and having the .edges of two of its-sides-turned .upon the main portion-of the-shutter,acl1aracter upon-theifrontifaceof said shutter, ofa reversible slide,-having:a character upon its 'front andrearfaces,:ad-apted to be placed=in said shutter, its outer edges being embraced bysaiditurnedin edges of said shutter, substantially :as-d'escribed.

In :testimony whereof .I have aflixed my signature in=the presence oftwo witnesses.

{JOHN E. WENGER. YVitn'esses:

W; O. :FREW,

A-Mos D.1VIURR. 

